Changing table placed on a ground or a table and capable of weighting a child

ABSTRACT

A changing table, which is placed on a ground or a table and capable of weighting a child, includes a frame, a weighting module and a fabric component. The frame includes a lower frame including a supporting portion for supporting the changing table on a surface of the ground or the table, and an upper frame movably installed on the lower frame. The weighting module includes four load sensors disposed on four corners of the frame and between the lower frame and the upper frame. The fabric component covers the upper frame to form a supporting area for supporting the child. The changing table can measure a first weight of the child before feeding the child and further measure a second weight of the child after feeding the child, so as to determine a difference of the second weight and the first weight of the child as the feeding intake.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/134,996, which is filed on Sep. 19, 2018 and claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/561,252, filed on Sep. 21,2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a child product, and more particularlyto a changing table placed on a ground or a table and capable ofweighting a child.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Using a weighting scale is a popular way to track a child's growth.Currently, caregivers who want to weight their children at home may buya dedicated infant scale or a standard bathroom scale. However, thesescales are typically single purpose products with no other use aroundthe home. Furthermore, these products are usually made of hard plasticmaterial, which makes children uncomfortable. Besides, the conventionalscale does not offer a feature to measure a feeding intake of a child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide achanging table placed on a ground or a table and capable of weighting achild for solving the aforementioned problem.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, the present inventiondiscloses a changing table placed on a ground or a table and capable ofweighting a child. The changing table includes a frame, a weightingmodule and a fabric component. The frame includes a lower frame and anupper frame. The lower frame includes at least one supporting portionfor supporting the changing table on a surface of the ground or asurface of the table. The upper frame is movably installed on the lowerframe. The weighting module includes four load sensors disposed on fourcorners of the frame and between the lower frame and the upper frame.The fabric component covers the upper frame to form a supporting areabetween the upper frame and the lower frame for supporting the child.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the lower frameincludes a lower tube, a first lower housing and a second lower housing.The first lower housing is connected to an end of the lower tube. Thesecond lower housing is connected to the other end of the lower tube.The upper frame includes a first upper tube, a second upper tube, afirst upper housing and a second upper housing. The second upper tube isseparated from the first upper tube. The first upper housing isconnected to an end of the first upper tube and an end of the secondupper tube. The first upper housing is movably installed on the firstlower housing. The second upper housing is connected to the other end ofthe first upper tube and the other end of the second upper tube. Thesecond upper housing is movably installed on the second lower housing.Two of the four load sensors are disposed between the first lowerhousing and the first upper housing, and the other two of the four loadsensors are disposed between the second lower housing and the secondupper housing.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the lower frameincludes at least one mounting portion for mounting on a play yard.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the weightingmodule further includes a display device disposed on the lower frame.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the weightingmodule further includes at least one cable connected to the displaydevice and at least one of the four load sensors.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least onecable passes through the lower frame.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the display deviceincludes a monitor, a front cover and a rear cover. The front cover isfixed onto the lower frame. The monitor is installed on the front cover.The rear cover is detachably installed on the lower frame and the frontcover, and an accommodating space is formed between the front cover andthe rear cover.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rear coverincludes at least one latch for engaging with the lower frame.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, two first abuttingbosses and two second abutting bosses protrude from the upper frame forabutting against the four load sensors disposed between the upper frameand the lower frame.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one slotis on the upper frame, and the fabric component is attached to or hungon the upper frame via the at least one slot.

In summary, the changing table of the present invention utilizes thefour load sensors disposed between the upper frame and the lower framemovable relative to each other to measure the weight of the child.Therefore, the changing table can measure the first weight of the childbefore feeding the child and further measure the second weight of thechild after feeding the child, so as to calculate the difference of thesecond weight and the first weight of the child as the feeding intake.It is helpful for caregivers who are concerned about food intake oftheir children. Furthermore, the changing table can not only beinstalled on the play yard but also be removed from the play yard andplaced on a ground or a table, which bring convenience in use. Besides,the changing table further utilizes the fabric component to support thechild, which provides a comfortable environment for the child duringmeasurement.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment that isillustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a play yard assembly according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are diagrams of a changing table at different viewsaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged diagram of the changing table shown in FIG.2 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged diagram of the changing table shown in FIG.3 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are partial diagrams of the changing table atdifferent views according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a first upper housing according to the embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of a weighting module according tothe embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a rear cover of a display device according to the embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart diagram illustrating a method of measuring afeeding intake by the changing table according to the embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments,reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof,and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments inwhich the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directionalterminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” etc., is usedwith reference to the orientation of the Figure (s) being described. Thecomponents of the present invention can be positioned in a number ofdifferent orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used forpurposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. Accordingly, thedrawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature andnot as restrictive.

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 . FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of aplay yard assembly 1 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are diagrams of a changing table 11 atdifferent views according to the embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged diagram of the changing table 11 shown inFIG. 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is apartial enlarged diagram of the changing table 11 shown in FIG. 3according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1to FIG. 5 , the play yard assembly 1 includes the changing table 11 anda play yard 12. The changing table 11 is detachably installed on theplay yard 12 and capable of weighting a child. The changing table 11includes a frame 111, a weighting module 112 and a fabric component 113,which is shown in dashed lines. The frame 111 includes a lower frame1111 and an upper frame 1112. The lower frame 1111 is detachablyinstalled on the play yard 12. The upper frame 1112 is movably installedon the lower frame 1111. The fabric component 113 covers the upper frame1112 to form a supporting area between the upper frame 1112 and thelower frame 1111 for supporting the child. For example, the fabriccomponent 113 can be detachably hung on or attached to the upper frame1112, and the fabric component 113 itself is separated from the lowerframe 1111.

Specifically, the lower frame 1111 includes a lower tube 1111A, a firstlower housing 1111B and a second lower housing 1111C. The lower tube111A is under the supporting area. The first lower housing 1111B isconnected to an end of the lower tube 1111A. The second lower housing1111C is connected to the other end of the lower tube 1111A. The upperframe 1112 includes a first upper tube 1112A, a second upper tube 1112B,a first upper housing 1112C and a second upper housing 1112D. The firstupper tube 1112A and the second upper tube 1112B are separated from eachother and located at two opposite sides of the changing table 11. Thefirst upper housing 1112C is connected to an end of the first upper tube1112A and an end of the second upper tube 1112B. The first upper housing1112C is movably installed on the first lower housing 1111B and movablerelative to the first lower housing 1111B along a vertical direction.The second upper housing 1112D is connected to the other end of thefirst upper tube 1112A and the other end of the second upper tube 1112B.The second upper housing 1112D is movably installed on the second lowerhousing 1111C and movable relative to the second lower housing 1111Calong the vertical direction.

In this embodiment, two slots 1112G can be on each of the first upperhousing 1112C and the second upper housing 1112D. The fabric component113 can be attached to or hung on the first upper housing 1112C and thesecond upper housing 1112D via the slots 1112G. However, the number andthe configuration of the slot are not limited to this embodiment. Inanother embodiment, there can be only one slot on the upper frame, sothat the fabric component can be attached to or hung on the upper framevia the slot.

Furthermore, each of the first lower housing 1111B and the second lowerhousing 1111C of the lower frame 1111 includes amounting portion 1111Dfor mounting on the play yard 12 and a supporting portion 1111E forsupporting the changing table 11 on a surface, such as a surface of atable or a surface of a ground, after the changing table 11 is detachedfrom the play yard 12, so that the changing table 11 can be placed onthe table or the ground. In other words, the changing table 11 and theplay yard 12 of the present invention can be used together orindependently. However, the numbers and the configurations of themounting portion and the supporting portion are not limited to thoseillustrated in the figures.

Please refer to FIG. 2 to FIG. 9 . FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are partialdiagrams of the changing table 11 at different views according to theembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram of the firstupper housing 1112C according to the embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the weighting module112 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 2 to FIG. 8 , the weighting module 112 includes four load sensors1121, a display device 1122 and four cables 1123. The four load sensors1121 are disposed on four corners of the frame 111 and between the lowerframe 1111 and the upper frame 1112. Specifically, two of the four loadsensors 1121 are disposed on the first lower housing 1111B and locatedbetween the first lower housing 1111B and the first upper housing 1112C,and the other two of the four load sensors 1121 are disposed on thesecond lower housing 1111C and located between the second lower housing1111C and the second upper housing 1112D. Furthermore, two firstabutting bosses 1112E protrude from the first upper housing 1112C of theupper frame 1112 for abutting against the corresponding two load sensors1121 fixed on the first lower housing 1111B of the lower frame 1111, andtwo second abutting bosses 1112F protrude from the second upper housing1112D of the upper frame 1112 for abutting against the corresponding twoload sensors 1121 fixed on the second lower housing 1111C of the lowerframe 1111. In such a way, when the child is placed on the changingtable 11 and supported by the fabric component 113, the upper frame 1112is forced to move relative to the lower frame 1111 downwardly, so thatthe two first abutting bosses 1112E and the two second abutting bosses1112F can press the four load sensors 1121 to weight the child. Thenumbers and the configurations of the load sensors and the abuttingbosses are not limited to those illustrated in this embodiment. Itdepends on practical demands. For example, the load sensors can beinstalled on the lower frame 1111 and located on a plane evenly formeasuring the child's weight precisely.

In this embodiment, the four load sensors 1121 can preferably be fixedon the first lower housing 1111B and the second lower housing 1111C ofthe lower frame 1111 by screwing, which allows the first abutting bosses1112E and the second abutting bosses 1112F to evenly press the four loadsensors 1121 to prevent a measurement error due to an uneven load.

Furthermore, the display device 1122 is disposed on the first lowerhousing 1111B of the lower frame 1111. The four cables 1123 areconnected to the display device 1122 and the four load sensors 1121. Inthis embodiment, two of the four cables 1123 connected to the two loadsensors 1121 fixed on the second lower housing 1111C can pass throughthe lower tube 1111A of the lower frame 1111 for hiding the two of thefour cables 1123 so as to prevent a potential hazard of exposing thecable 1123 to the child.

Please refer to FIG. 3 , FIG. 7 , FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 . FIG. 10 is a rearcover 1122C of the display device 1122 according to the embodiment ofthe present invention. As shown in FIG. 3 , FIG. 7 , FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the display device 1122 includes a monitor 1122A, a front cover 1122B,the rear cover 1122C and a circuit board 1122D. The front cover 1122B isfixed onto the first lower housing 1111B of the lower frame 1111. Themonitor 1122A is installed on the front cover 1122B. The rear cover1122C is detachably installed on the first lower housing 1111B of thelower frame 1111 and the front cover 1122B. An accommodating space 1122Eis formed between the front cover 1122B and the rear cover 1122C. Thecircuit board 1122D is disposed inside the accommodating space 1122E andelectrically connected to the monitor 1122A and the four load sensors1121. In other words, the four cables 1123 are connected to the circuitboard 1122D of the display device 1122 and the four load sensors 1121.

In this embodiment, the rear cover 1122C can preferably include twolatches 1122H for engaging with the first lower housing 1111B of thelower frame 1111. Additional fixing components for joining the firstlower housing 1111B and the rear cover 1122C (e.g. bolts) would not beneeded because of the engagement between the latches 1122H and the firstlower housing 1111B. The above design prevents the additional fixingcomponents from interfering with the circuit board 1122D and optimizesthe accommodating space 1122E.

Furthermore, the display device 1122 can further include three buttons1122F and a battery holder 1122G. In this embodiment, the three buttons1122F are electrically connected to the circuit board 1122D. The batteryholder 1122G is disposed on the lower frame 1111 and electricallyconnected to the circuit board 1122D for accommodating batteries. Inthis embodiment, the plurality of buttons 1122F can preferably beseparately installed on the front cover 1122B to prevent interferencebetween the two adjacent buttons 1122F during operation. Furthermore,the battery holder 1122G can be preferably disposed on the first lowerhousing 1111B and away from the accommodating space 1122E for easyreplacement of the batteries.

Please refer to FIG. 11 . FIG. 11 is a flow chart diagram illustrating amethod of measuring a feeding intake by the changing table 11 accordingto the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 11 , themethod includes the following step:

S1: Place the child into the supporting area of the changing table 11before feeding the child;

S2: The four load sensors 1121 of the weighting module 112 of thechanging table 11 measure a first weight of the child in the supportingarea of the changing table 11 before feeding the child;

S3: Remove the child from the supporting area of the changing table 11after measuring of the first weight of the child and then feeding thechild;

S4: Place the child into the supporting area of the changing table 11after feeding the child;

S5: The four load sensors 1121 of the weighting module 112 of thechanging table 11 measure a second weight of the child in the supportingarea of the changing table 11 after feeding the child;

S6: The weighting module 112 of the changing table 11 calculates adifference between the second weight and the first weight of the child;and

S7: The monitor 1122A of the display device 1122 of the weighting module112 of the changing table 11 displays the difference of the secondweight and the first weight of the child as the feeding intake.

More detailed description for the steps of the method is provided asfollows. When it is desired for caregivers to track the feeding intakeof the child, the caregivers can be prompted to place the child into thesupporting area of the changing table 11 to measure the first weight ofthe child by the monitor 1122A before feeding the child (steps S1 andS2). When the first weight of the child is measured by the four loadsensors 1121, the caregiver can be prompted to remove the child andbegin feeding the child by the monitor 1122A (step S3). Afterwards, thecaregiver can be further prompted to place the child back into thesupporting area again to measure the second weight of the child by themonitor 1122A after feeding the child (steps S4 and S5). When the secondweight of the child is measured by the four load sensors 1121, theweighting module 112 can calculate the difference between the secondweight and the first weight of the child as the feeding intake andcontrol the monitor 1122A to display the feeding intake. Therefore, thepresent invention makes it simple for the caregivers who want to trackthe feeding intake of the child.

In contrast to the prior art, the changing table of the presentinvention utilizes the four load sensors disposed between the upperframe and the lower frame movable relative to each other to measure theweight of the child. Therefore, the changing table can measure the firstweight of the child before feeding the child and further measure thesecond weight of the child after feeding the child, so as to calculatethe difference of the second weight and the first weight of the child asthe feeding intake. It is helpful for caregivers who are concerned aboutfood intake of their children. Furthermore, the changing table can notonly be installed on the play yard but also be removed from the playyard and placed on a ground or a table, which bring convenience in use.Besides, the changing table further utilizes the fabric component tosupport the child, which provides a comfortable environment for thechild during measurement.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the abovedisclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A changing table placed on a ground or a tableand capable of weighting a child, the changing table comprising: a framecomprising: a lower frame comprising at least one supporting portion forsupporting the changing table on a surface of the ground or a surface ofthe table; and; an upper frame movably installed on the lower frame; aweighting module comprising four load sensors disposed on four cornersof the frame and between the lower frame and the upper frame; and afabric component covering the upper frame to form a supporting areabetween the upper frame and the lower frame for supporting the child. 2.The changing table of claim 1, wherein the lower frame comprises a lowertube, a first lower housing and a second lower housing, the lower tubeis under the supporting area, the first lower housing is connected to anend of the lower tube, the second lower housing is connected to theother end of the lower tube, the upper frame comprises a first uppertube, a second upper tube, a first upper housing and a second upperhousing, the second upper tube is separated from the first upper tube,the first upper housing is connected to an end of the first upper tubeand an end of the second upper tube, the first upper housing is movablyinstalled on the first lower housing, the second upper housing isconnected to the other end of the first upper tube and the other end ofthe second upper tube, the second upper housing is movably installed onthe second lower housing, two of the four load sensors are disposedbetween the first lower housing and the first upper housing, and theother two of the four load sensors are disposed between the second lowerhousing and the second upper housing.
 3. The changing table of claim 1,wherein the lower frame comprises at least one mounting portion formounting on a play yard.
 4. The changing table of claim 1, wherein theweighting module further comprises a display device disposed on thelower frame.
 5. The changing table of claim 4, wherein the weightingmodule further comprises at least one cable connected to the displaydevice and at least one of the four load sensors.
 6. The changing tableof claim 5, wherein the at least one cable passes through the lowerframe.
 7. The changing table of claim 4, wherein the display devicecomprises a monitor, a front cover and a rear cover, the front cover isfixed onto the lower frame, the monitor is installed on the front cover,the rear cover is detachably installed on the lower frame and the frontcover, and an accommodating space is formed between the front cover andthe rear cover.
 8. The changing table of claim 7, wherein the rear covercomprises at least one latch for engaging with the lower frame.
 9. Thechanging table of claim 1, wherein two first abutting bosses and twosecond abutting bosses protrude from the upper frame for abuttingagainst the four load sensors disposed between the upper frame and thelower frame.
 10. The changing table of claim 1, wherein at least oneslot is on the upper frame, and the fabric component is attached to orhung on the upper frame via the at least one slot.
 11. The changingtable of claim 1, wherein the supporting portion is lower than thesupporting area.